Justin Holl will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Kessel to re-enter the lineup. The 25-year-old Kessel is averaging 12:30 time-on-ice and has three points (2G / 1A) in 27 games this season.
Oettinger only lasted one period in the Stars' previous game, being relieved by Casey DeSmith after allowing four goals on eight shots (.500 SV%) in an eventual 6-4 loss to the New Jersey Devils. That said, before that poor performance, the 27-year-old Oettinger was on an excellent run, posting a dazzling 1.81 GAA and .930 SV% in eight games (6-0-2). The Stars enter Thursday's contest as -125 road favourites against the New York Islanders, who have lost three of their last four games (1-3-0).
While Juuse Saros was out with a lower-body injury for several games last week, Annunen shone for the Predators and proved himself to be a reliable option between the pipes. The 26-year-old Annunen saved 39 of 40 shots (.975 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights, giving him a stellar 2.34 GAA and .921 SV% in 15 appearances since the beginning of December (7-5-1). The Predators enter Thursday's contest as slight -107 home favourites against a New Jersey Devils team that has scored four or more goals in five of their last six games (4-2-0).
With Robert Thomas (upper body) out of the lineup on Thursday, Walker will draw back in for the first time in two weeks. The 32-year-old Walker is averaging 12:04 time-on-ice and has 11 points (4G / 7A) in 41 games this season.
Thomas was limited to only 14:08 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Washington Capitals. He was absent from practice on Wednesday and will not play on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. The 26-year-old Thomas is averaging 18:56 time-on-ice and has 46 points (16G / 30A) in 53 games this season.
Hofer has emerged as the go-to option between the pipes for the Blues, and he will return to the crease on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks, fresh off of saving all 21 shots he faced for his sixth shutout of the season in a 3-0 win over the San Jose Sharks. The 25-year-old Hofer has two shutouts in his last five games and has been near perfect since returning from the Olympic break, going 6-0-2 with an absurd 1.34 GAA and .955 SV%. The Blues enter Thursday's contest as -142 home favourites against a free-falling Sharks team that has been outscored 27-11 during a five-game losing streak (0-5-0).
Hellebuyck was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 26 of 27 shots (.963 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. That said, reliable efforts from the three-time Vezina-winning goalie have not been a regularity this season. The 32-year-old Hellebuyck has allowed three or more goals in seven of 13 games since returning from the Olympic break (5-4-4), posting a pedestrian 2.98 GAA and .890 SV%. The Jets enter Thursday's contest as +157 home underdogs against the league-leading Colorado Avalanche, who have outscored their opposition 13-5 in their last three games (3-0-0).
Hellebuyck was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 26 of 27 shots (.963 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. That said, reliable efforts from the three-time Vezina-winning goalie have not been a regularity this season. The 32-year-old Hellebuyck has allowed three or more goals in seven of 13 games since returning from the Olympic break (5-4-4), posting a pedestrian 2.98 GAA and .890 SV%. The Jets enter Thursday's contest as +157 home underdogs against the league-leading Colorado Avalanche, who have outscored their opposition 13-5 in their last three games (3-0-0).
Knight was solid in his previous outing, saving 30 of 33 shots (.909 SV%), but came up short in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Nashville Predators. That said, the 24-year-old Knight, who has been serviceable all season in Chicago, has been reliable since returning from the Olympic break, posting a 2.71 GAA and .913 SV%, but unfortunately, it has not translated into a winning record: 2-3-3 in eight games. The Blackhawks enter Thursday's contest as +145 road underdogs against a Philadelphia Flyers team that has points in six of its last seven games (5-1-1).
Pulock has not played the past two games for the Islanders due to a lower-body injury, but he could be ready to return on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. The 31-year-old defenseman is averaging 20:59 time-on-ice and has 25 points (3G / 22A) in 67 games this season.
DeAngelo exited Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks after only six shifts due to a lower-body injury, and will not play on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. Adam Boqvist stepped up during DeAngelo's absence and filled in on the Islanders' second powerplay unit. The 30-year-old DeAngelo has 33 points (5G / 28A) in 72 games this season.
Samoskevich has not played Florida's previous two games and will miss at least one more, out on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild. The 23-year-old Samoskevich is averaging 14:15 time-on-ice, recording 23 points (6G / 17A), 123 hits, and 139 shots in 66 games this season. His next chance to return will be on Saturday against the New York Islanders.
The Islanders are just outside of a Wild Card spot in an ultra-tight race in the Eastern Conference, and will turn to Sorokin on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. The 30-year-old Sorokin was excellent in his last start, saving all 26 shots he faced for his league-leading seventh shutout of the season in a 1-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. That said, he has an under .500 record this month (4-5-0), with a 2.74 GAA and .904 SV%. The Islanders enter Thursday's contest as +113 home underdogs against a Dallas Stars team that has followed up a franchise-best 15-game point streak (14-0-1) by losing four of five games (1-3-1).
Vasilevskiy did not need to be spectacular in Tampa Bay's previous outing, saving 21 of 24 shots (.875 SV%) in a 6-3 win over the Minnesota Wild. The 31-year-old goalie has not been his dominant self lately, going 6-5-0 with a pedestrian 3.02 GAA and .886 SV% in 11 games (6-5-0) since the end of February. Tampa Bay, in a race for the top seed in the Atlantic Division, enters Thursday's contest as significant -296 home favourites against an offensively challenged Seattle Kraken team that has scored two or fewer goals in five of its last eight games (2-5-1).
Hayton was limited to only 17 seconds of time-on-ice in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, exiting the game with an upper-body injury. Utah recalled Daniil But from Tucson (AHL), indicating that Hayton could miss some time. The 25-year-old Hayton has 25 points (10G / 15A) in 67 games this season.
Since returning from the Olympic break, the Panthers have been much more liberal with their goalie rotation, and will turn to Tarasov on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild for the sixth time in their last 13 games. That said, the 26-year-old Tarasov hasn't benefited from the extra playing time. In his last four games (1-3-0), he boasts an ugly 4.03 GAA and .862 SV%. Florida enters Thursday's contest as +134 home underdogs against a Minnesota team that has lost five of their last seven (2-4-1).
Koppanen had a 10-game stint with Pittsburgh earlier this season, scoring one assist, but has spent most of the 2025-26 campaign in the AHL. The 2016 fifth-round pick has 19 points (7G / 12A) in 37 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) this season.
Hayes made his NHL debut earlier this season, scoring two goals in 11 games, but has spent most of the 2025-26 campaign in the AHL. The undrafted 23-year-old forward has 32 points (20G / 12A) in 38 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) this season.
George scored one assist in two games with New York earlier this season, but has spent most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL. The 22-year-old defenseman has 17 points (2G / 15A) in 45 games with Bridgeport (AHL) this season.
The Islanders are just outside of a Wild Card spot in an ultra-tight race in the Eastern Conference, and will turn to Sorokin on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. The 30-year-old Sorokin was excellent in his last start, saving all 26 shots he faced for his league-leading seventh shutout of the season in a 1-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. That said, he has an under .500 record this month (4-5-0), with a 2.74 GAA and .904 SV%. The Islanders enter Thursday's contest as +113 home underdogs against a Dallas Stars team that has followed up a franchise-best 15-game point streak (14-0-1) by losing four of five games (1-3-1).
